BROOKINGS – For the very first time, the state of South Dakota will have a permanent Poetry Walk. 

The Poetry Walk will be located on Main Avenue in Brookings. It will feature poems by South Dakota’s seven poet laureates: Badger Clark was South Dakota’s first poet laureate, followed by Adeline Jenney, Mable Frederick, Audrae Visser, David Allan Evans, Lee Ann Roripaugh and Christine Stewart-Nuñez.

Plaques with their poems, dates of service, and a line drawing of their images will be installed in various bump-outs along Main Avenue: at the Post Office, Nick’s Hamburger Shop, Ray’s Corner, the old Ram Pub, Lash Spa, Skinner’s Pub and Kool Beans.  

The first Poetry Walk will be from 3 to 4 p.m. Sept. 23 during the Festival of Books. Start at the Brookings Post Office bump-out to hear Bruce Roseland read a Badger Clark poem. A little later, hear David Allan Evans read his poem, and end at Kool Beans to hear Christine Stewart-Nuñez read her poem. Along the way at each of the seven installations on Main, attendees will hear information about the featured poet laureate and their poems read.

Major funders of the project are the Brookings Public Art Commission, Visit Brookings, South Dakota State Poetry Society and South Dakota Arts Council.  South Dakota Arts Council support is provided with funds from the State of South Dakota, through the Department of Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

The South Dakota State Poetry Society, organized in 1927, is the oldest continuous poetry society in the United States. For more information, go to sdpoetry.org.